Baltimore Man Sentenced To 70 Months In Federal Prison For Illegal Possession Of Machineguns And Ammunition

Baltimore, Maryland – On June 12, 2024, U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Bernard Edwards, age 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 70 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for the illegal possession of a machinegun and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. 

The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department; and Special Agent in Charge Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division. 

According to his plea agreement and court documents, on June 8, 2023, at approximately 12:25 a.m., an officer from the Baltimore Police Department (“BPD”) observed a gray 2019 Chevrolet Malibu with an expired temporary license plate and the BPD officer initiated a traffic stop and then observed what appeared to be a gray-colored assault rifle in plain view through the car’ rear passenger window.  Edwards refused to exit the car when ordered and instead fled at high speed, leaving behind his license and registration with the officer. 

Once law enforcement located and obtained a warrant for Edwards’ residence, BPD searched and recovered five firearms and 1,168 rounds of ammunition from Edwards’ bedroom.  Among the firearms recovered was a polymer AR pistol bearing no serial number (“ghost gun”) that was modified with a machine gun conversion device.  Another firearm was a Glock handgun modified with a Glock switch.

This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).  NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.  NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles.  For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Baltimore Police Department and the ATF for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gordin, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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